Nolita landlord, broker accept $18,000 via Bitcoin in rental deal

A Manhattan real estate broker accepted a deposit, rent and his own commission on a Nolita deal via the controversial virtual currency Bitcoin.

Nick Spanos, founder of both advocacy organization Bitcoin Center NYC and real estate brokerage Bapple, told Crain’s the tenant in question paid a total of $18,000 in the digital currency to an unnamed landlord for a lease that began April 1. Jeff Goolsby, the broker on the deal, told the news site that he opted to go the Bitcoin route to avoid fees associated with certified checks and wire transfers.

“The deal was easy for my client, and thrilling for me,” Goolsby said in a statement.